Erie student receives gift after losing her emotional support dog in car crash
An Erie, Illinois girl was left devastated after losing her best friend, her emotional support dog named Zorn. Through all the sadness and tears, there is reason for her to smile.
Jayda Rosenow is an Erie High School student. She’s gone to the state playoffs in girls wrestling representing the Erie Cardinals. Her dog, Zorn was killed after being hit by a car earlier in February.
Jayda needs an emotional support animal to fight against her anxiety and depression symptoms. “I heard my dog get hit, or something get hit,” Jayda said. “I started walking towards the road, and workers from the auto body shop nearby asked me if it was my dog. I looked to the road and saw my dog laying on the ground. I cannot explain the emotions I was feeling at that moment.”
Jayda tried reaching out to her father at the time, but he was hard at work during one of his ten hour shifts supporting the family he had to raise by himself. “I had to ignore the phone call because I drive fork trucks,” said Dennis Rosenow, Jayda’s father. “I can’t just pull over and answer the phone, I’ll get fired. It’s just ringing, and ringing, and ringing, and I know it’s my daughter.”
For Jayda, life and school went on that day, when she had to compete in a state sectional round for girl’s wrestling.
“It was just so hard to see the dog that I’ve had for two years, my best friend that helped through everything in front of me,” Jayda said. Zorn was an emotional support animal, something that Jayda needs to fight her battles with anxiety and depression.
“It’s the most important thing not just for her mental health, but for my security,” Dennis said. “I know my daughter is safe with her dog. If she’s not safe, then he’s going to help out as much as he can to protect her.”
The Rosenow’s received a surprise call from Zorn’s former owners. When they heard about the accident, the wanted to help. “They’re like we still have one of Zorn’s brothers,” Dennis said. “How would you feel about taking Zorn’s brother? Ten minutes go by and I know my daughter pretty well. I called her back up and said we’ll do it.”
The former owners let the Rosenows adopt Pork Chop, Zorn’s brother. Because of the accident, Pork Chop was free for the Rosenows.
“They said he was wild,” Dennis said. “They haven’t been able to take care of him, he knows nothing. We’ve had him, now he sits, walks. He’s Zorn, but not Zorn.” Jayda is thankful for the community coming together to help her and her family. “We’re not very wealthy, and it’s just like really nice that somebody offered to like do this for us, to get another dog,” Dennis said. Pork Chop has been a part of the family almost a week, but the family says they’re happy to start the new beginning.
To donate to the GoFundMe, click here. All extra money received by the Rosenows will be used towards their new emotional support animal, and will go toward funds to buy food, toys, and supplies to take care of the dog.
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